Device for treating type-metals.



E. M. LOW.

DEVICE FOR TREATING TY'PB METALS.

APPLIOATION FILED mm. 24, 1912.

LQBQfiZQ Patented Dec. 23, 1913.

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WITNESSES: I/WE/VTOR WW fizz/ M M @QM LK K. 01m

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EVERETT M. LOW, or New YORK, N. Y.

DEVICE FOR TREATING TYPE-METALS.

vented certain new and useful Improve" I ments in Devices for Treating Type-l\'letals,

of which the following is a specification.-

My invention relates to a device for inserting a cleaning agent into type metal or the like while in a molten state.

The object of my invention is to provide a means of treating type metal or the like whereby a cleaning agent may be inserted into molten metal and be broughtgradually into contact therewith, thereby preventing the escape of the cleaning agent to the surface of the metal before it has been brought into contact with 'all parts of it. To accomplish this I provide a shell containing a cleaning agent, in liquid form or-of such composition as to become liquid at the temperature of the molten metal in which it is to be used, the shell being provided with means hereinafter described whereby the contents may escape gradually into the surrounding metal in which it is immersed. I attain these objects by the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1, is an elevation partly in section of a shell ready for use; Fig. 2, a plan partly in section of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view of a modified form of my device; Fig. 4,- an end view of Fig. 1; Fig. 5, is a 6, is a view of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of arrow 2, Fig. 5; Fig. 7, is a view of Fig. 5, in section, on line y, y, looking in the direction of arrow 00.

Referring to the drawing: A, is the shell made preferably of metal; B, is the wick; C, is the wick holder made preferably in two sections, 1 and 2; and D, is the contents of the shell A. In Fig. 3, I have shown a shell adapted to hold a round wick, the shell being contracted at the point 3 to hold the wick B. In practice I prefer to use a shell of metal and a wick of cotton or asbestos, according to the degree of heat to which it is to be subjected. The shell A, is filledor partially filledwith the cleaning agent d when in a fluid or semifluid state; the wick B is placed between the sections 1 and 2, of the wick holder C, when the wick holder 0, and wick B is forced into the end of the shell A. The most common cleaning agents Specification of Letters Patent.

view of one section of the wick holder; Fig..-

are tallow, rosin and salammoniac, used separately or combined in various proportions and sometimes compounded with charcoal and other substances.

A great variety of compounds are in use for cleaning and removing the dross from type metal, some of which are in the form of a powder'and some of which are liquid. All ofthese compounds being lighterthan metal, cannot be forced into the metal but will float on the surface and do not come into contact With the body of the metal and consequently have no action uponit. In my device I inclose the cleaning agent in the shell A, and as soon as the shell A is immersed in the molten type metal the contents D, of the shell A, melts and passes through the wick B, gradually and as the shell A, is moved throughout the metal the contents D, of the shell A, is brought into contact with every part of the molten metal. If I desire to use a cleaning agent in liquid form, I would use a wick coated with wax or other suitable substance impervious to the liquid cleaning agent until melted by contact with the molten metal.

In practice the type metal, such as is used for linotyping, stereotyping and similar purposes is heated to about 600 to 650 F., when the cleaning agent is thrown on-the top of the molten metal where it acts on the dross and impurities which are floating on the top of the molten metal, separating the free metal from the dross and when the cleaning agent is also a deoxidizing agent it deoxidizes some of the dross, the amount depending on the degree of heat to which the metal is subjected the dross is then skimmed off, leaving the surface of the Patented Dec. 23, 1913. Application filed June 24, 1912. Serial No. 705,616.

metal exposed to the air, allowing still further oxidation and formation of dross. All of the cleaning agents are deoxidizing agents and fluxes to a greater or less degree, according to the metal in which they are used and while I have used the term cleaning agent, I wish it to be understood as a general term used for all of the substances and compounds whether cleaning agents, deoxidizing agents or fluxes employed for cleaning, refining and restoring metal to its proper condition.

In using my device, the surface of the metal may be covered with charcoal and the dross may be allowed to remain on the top of'the metal while melting and pouring any number of charges, until the last charge of metal is to be poured preparatory to allowing the furnace to cool down, when the dross and charcoal may be removed; the surface covering of charcoal and dross does not interfere with the cleaning process as my cleaning device may be plunged through the surface covering and be immersed in the molten metal and be brought into contact with all parts of it. Theshell may be im-. mersed in the molten metal by holding it in a pair of tongs or by securing it to an iron rod by a piece of wire.

One of the objectionable features incidental to the use of cleaning and deoxidizing agents is the escape of smoke and poisonous fumes into the air of the room, when used by any of the heretofore known methods; this is almost wholly obviated by my device as it is at all times during its use; wholly immersed in the molten metal and such of the cleaning agent as does rise to the surface is absorbed by the surface covering of charcoal and dross.

l/Vhile I have referred to the contents of the shellA as a cleaning agent I wish it understood that I may use a cleaning agent, a deoxidizing agent, a flux or a combination of the three, either consecutively or conjunctively. r

In Fig. 3, I have shown a shell of modified form in which a round wick is used and in which the shell A is reduced in diameter at the point 3, after the wick is inserted for the purpose of holding the wick, but I may if desired use the wick holder C, Fig. 1, modified to hold a round instead of a flat wick.

It is apparent that many kinds of ma.- terial'may be used for the shell A, as paper, coated or enameled, would have suflicient heat resisting properties to resist the action of the molten metal for a suflicient length of time to perform its function.

While my device is particularly adapted to be used for tin, antimony andlead and compositions of these metals, it is apparent 1. In a device of the class described, a

shell containing a deoxidizing agent adapted to be used to reduce and re s ove dross from molten metal, said shell having means whereby the said deoxidizing agent will es cape gradually from the shell by capillary action into the molten metal in which it is immersed.

2. In a device of the class described a shell containing a metal treating agent and adapted to be immersed in molten metal, said shell being provided with an absorptive medium through which the said treating agent passes from the said shell into the molten metal in which it is immersed.

3. In a device of the class described a shell containing a n etal treating agent and adapted to be immersed in molten metal, said shell being provided with means whereby the said molten metal absorbs the said metal treating agent by capillary attraction.

4. In a device of the class described, a shell containing a metal treating agent and adapted to be mmersed in molten metal, said shell being provided with a wick through which said agent may be absorbed by the molten metal.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EVERETT M. LOW.

lVitnesses SAMUEL B. BUSTEED, THOMAS J. SHEPARD. 

